Anigozanthos hybrid plant named ‘Ramboramp’

ABSTRACT

‘Ramboramp’ is a distinctive variety of  Anigozanthos  hybrid which is characterized by the combination of its medium to tall plant height, long flowering season, profuse flowering, large flower size and orange-red colored flowers.

Latin name of the genus and species: Anigozanthos hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Ramboramp’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Anigozanthos hybrid, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘Ramboramp’. Its market class is that of an ornamental plant. ‘Ramboramp’ is intended for use in landscaping and as a decorative plant.

The Anigozanthos hybrid variety ‘Ramboramp’ was the result of a seedling selection of an unnamed Anigozanthos hybrid believed to be Anigozanthos humilis×Anigozanthos flavidus in 2006 in Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia. ‘Ramboramp’ was identified as a single seedling from a group of seedlings planted to a landscape from discarded progeny from a breeding program conducted in 2002 at Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia. ‘Ramboramp’ was observed to have desirable traits including strong performance in the landscape, long flowering season, large flower size and tolerance to typical diseases of Anigozanthos. The inventive variety was finally selected in July 2006 based on its unique traits. ‘Ramboramp’ was isolated and subsequently propagated in vitro during 2006 through 2008. Resultant plants were tested in 14 cm pots and in ground during 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro propagation of micro-plants since 2007 in Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Ramboramp’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Anigozanthos hybrid plant:

-   -   1. Medium to tall plant height;     -   2. Long flowering season;     -   3. Profuse flowering;     -   4. Large flower size; and     -   5. Orange-red colored flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in perianth tube size and length of flowering season. ‘Ramboramp’ has a long and broad perianth tube creating a large flower size whereas the parent has a smaller perianth tube length and width creating a medium-sized flower. ‘Ramboramp’ has a long, almost continuous flowering season whereas the parent has a shorter flowering season from late winter to summer. The combination of large flower size with a long almost continuous flowering season, medium to tall plant height, profuse flowering, a orange-red colored flower and tolerance to typical diseases of Anigozanthos makes ‘Ramboramp’ a desirable ornamental plant suited for mass production for pot and landscape use.

Of the many commercially available Anigozanthos cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is the cultivar ‘Amber Velvet’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,999.

However, in side by side comparisons, conducted in Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Amber Velvet’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Ramboramp’ has a predominantly orange-red colored perianth         tube whereas ‘Amber Velvet’ has a predominantly orange perianth         tube color;     -   2. ‘Ramboramp’ has secondary inflorescence ramification whereas         ‘Amber Velvet’ has tertiary inflorescence ramification;     -   3. ‘Ramboramp’ has a long almost continuous flowering season         whereas ‘Amber Velvet’ a shorter flowering season from late         winter to summer;     -   4. ‘Ramboramp’ has a broad and long perianth size whereas ‘Amber         Velvet’ has a medium perianth size, and     -   5. ‘Ramboramp’ has a weak perianth lobe reflexing whereas ‘Amber         Velvet’ has strong perianth lobe reflexing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Ramboramp’.

FIG. 1 illustrates a ‘Ramboramp’ plant in a 30 cm pot grown for approximately 26 weeks in a greenhouse environment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a ‘Ramboramp’ inflorescence branching pattern.

FIG. 3 illustrates ‘Ramboramp’ flowers within the inflorescence showing flower and hair detail.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of an Anigozanthos hybrid ornamental plant known as ‘Ramboramp’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made from January 2008 of mature ‘Ramboramp’ plants grown in nursery pots in greenhouse and outdoor growing areas with day temperature ranging from 25° C. to 27° C., night temperatures ranging from 6° C. to 8° C., and light levels ranging from 6 to 8 klux. Plants were grown for about 24 weeks with one plant per 14 cm container. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘Ramboramp’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light quality, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2007 edition.

-   Botanical classification: Anigozanthos hybrid cultivar Ramboramp. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parents.—Unnamed Anigozanthos hybrid. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation of micro-plants.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 7 to 10 days at             temperatures of 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 15° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 45 to 60             days at temperatures of 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 55 to 70             days at temperatures of 15° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, freely branching, and white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Inverted triangle; compact, upright             and outwardly spreading plant habit with branched flowering             stems with predominately orange-red colored flowers.             Vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—Average plant height including the             inflorescence is about 95 cm (range 85 to 105 cm). Average             height of foliage is 40 cm (range 30 to 45 cm).         -   Plant diameter.—Average plant spread of a mature plant grown             in 20 cm nursery pots or field plots in Sydney, New South             Wales, Australia is 40 cm (observed summer 2007 through             2008).         -   Lateral branch.—Quantity per plant: About 30. Strength:             Strong. Diameter: About 2.0 cm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             145B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—The leaf attitude is erect to             semi-erect and the degree of leaf curvature is slightly             curved. Arrangement: Alternate equitant, simple; sessile.         -   Leaves.—Length: About 35 cm to 40 cm in a 30 cm pot. Width:             About 1.6 cm to 1.8 cm in a 30 cm pot. Shape:             Linear-slightly falcate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cauline. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             very weak glaucosity and sparsely pubescent on leaf margin.             Venation pattern: Parallel. Color of the upper and lower             surfaces: 147A with indistinguishable venation (observed             summer 2007 through 2008). -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Flowers arranged singly on terminal and             axillary racemes. Flowers with tubular perianth;             zygomorphic. Terminal flowers are held upright and attitude             of flowers gradually changes to a horizontal position             proximally. The proximal flowers are the first to open and             usually are the only flowers to express perianth lobe             reflexure. Flowers not fragrant. Flowers persistent. The             length of the lowest inflorescence branch including raceme:             About 17 cm to 20 cm. Number of flowers per inflorescence:             About 3 racemes per inflorescence, each with about 18 to 25             flowers greater in length than 3.0 mm in a 30 cm pot             (observed summer 2007 through 2008). Inflorescence height:             About 95 cm. Inflorescence diameter: About 20 cm to 25 cm.             Flower diameter: About 8.0 mm to 9.0 mm behind the lobes and             about 2.6 cm across the lobes on an opened flower. Flower             height: About 9.0 mm behind the lobes and about 1.5 cm             across the lobes on an opened flower.         -   Natural flowering season.—‘Ramboramp’ flowers continuously             from early spring to winter under outdoor growing conditions             in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Tubular. Length: About             4.5 cm. Width: About 6.0 mm. Texture: Tomentose. Color: 144A             with dense pubescence colored 59B to 59C.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Fused elongated tube with six weakly             reflexed acute lobes; split on lower surface. Appearance:             Flared distally. Perianth tube length: About 4.0 cm to             4.5 cm. Perianth tube diameter: About 9.0 mm. Lobe length:             About 1.5 cm. Lobe width: About 5 mm at base. Texture, outer             surface of perianth tube: Tomentose. Texture, inner surface             of perianth tube: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and             fully opened, outer surface of perianth tube: hairs             predominantly 59B to 59C with some NN155B. When opening and             fully opened, inner surface of perianth tube: 144B. The             combination of these hair colors over the inner surface             color of the perianth tube creates an overall orange red             effect.         -   Floral bracts.—Length: Up to 10 cm. Width: About 8.0 mm at             base. Shape: Ensiform tapering to a narrow conduplicate form             at the apex. Apex: narrow acute. Base: Clasping. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,             lower surface: Tomentose. Color, upper surface: 137B. Color,             lower surface: 137B.         -   Peduncle (flowering stems).—Strength: Strong, stout. Aspect:             Upright to outwardly spreading. Length: About 90 cm to             95 cm. Diameter at base: About 9.0 mm. Texture: Tomentose.             Color of surface: 146B with pubescence color ranging from             59A through 59B or NN155B.         -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 4 mm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: Distally appressed to flowering             stems, then about 30° to 45° from flowering stems proximally             with the largest, most mature flowers. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Tomentose. Color: 144A with pubescence color NN155B             with tips of some hairs colored ranging from 59C through             59D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: 6 per flower with 4             anthers at top of perianth. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther             size: About 1 mm by 3 mm. Anther color: 12B. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: 12B. Pistils: Quantity: One per             flower. Pistil length: About 4.5 cm. The position of the             stigma in relation to the anthers is level. Style length:             About 3.8 cm. Style color: 145A. Stigma shape: Rounded.             Stigma color: 144A. Ovary color: 144A with prominent             pubescence 59B to 59C creating a darker ovary coloration             compared to the perianth tube. -   Seed and fruit production: Seed and fruit development have not been     observed on plants of the new Anigozanthos. -   Environmental tolerances: ‘Ramboramp’ plants have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and to tolerate temperatures from 1° C.     to about 40° C. ‘Ramboramp’ has moderate to good drought tolerance.     ‘Ramboramp’ has moderate to good recovery with watering after severe     wilting. ‘Ramboramp’ does well in sandy and gravelly soils. -   Disease resistance: ‘Ramboramp’ has been observed have good     tolerance to typical diseases of Anigozanthos including Alternaria,     Crown Rot and Rust diseases. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Anigozanthos hybrid plant named ‘Ramboramp’, substantially as herein shown and described. 